Lambay Small Batch Blend Finished in Cognac Casks

Aroma: Sweet and fruity. Bananas, strawberries, and eucalyptus. Honey. Shortcake with sweetened whipped cream and a hint of mint. Sweet cinnamon and nutmeg are present. Perhaps Irish? Possibly blended Irish? Oak - but not charred. Toasted oak. Lightly toasted marshmallow. It's like the banana cream filling I imagine existed in Twinkies, but less intensely sweet. The ethanol is subtle - based on the aroma alone, I'd estimate around 43%. As the glass warms, the banana notes recede, and the strawberry notes advance, bringing in blueberry and blackberry. Nilla wafers, too. There's nothing sharp or piercing here. It's very well-rounded and inviting. Guessing an ex-bourbon cask? The berries are not musty or rich, and there's no nuttiness. Not a great deal of age here - perhaps 5 years? Taste: This is almost certainly Irish - shortbread cookies, bananas, cream. It's all there. There's a lightness that suggests Midleton spirit. There's also a good amount of what I perceive as oak. Jamo Black Barrel comes to mind. Slight tannic bitterness and texture. Coconut, nutmeg, black pepper, and just a faint touch of orange blossom water. Vanilla and honey. Chocolate milk - the kind from a gallon jug, not homemade Hershey's. Maybe a whisper of leather? Possibly? The mid and back palate are where it's at. Very focused on the middle, with the only rough edges appearing to be barrel character. Medium-light, creamy, semi-oily mouthfeel. Finish: Bananas, whipped cream, vanilla. Some honey, too. Just a touch of mint and thyme appear, followed by oak and European milk chocolate. It then slowly fades. Medium length finish. Other notes: After yesterday's experience, I was tempted to just declare it "obviously Laphroaig!!1!" and skip the reveal. Glad I didn't! Seeing it was blended Irish made me feel somewhat proud and like I'd learned something! It was cool. My life isn't very exciting. Research shows it's 40% ABV (missed this, but not by much), initially in ex-bourbon (correct), and finished in cognac (missed this). It's non-age-stated but at least 3 years old. It's also sourced from a newer distillery. I often struggle to distinguish oak influence from proof, so getting it within a few percentage points isn't too bad. I'd be curious to try it without the finishing barrel to see its contribution. Irish isn't usually my preference, but this might be something I'd occasionally purchase. Not bad. Until next time, cheers!

I appreciate this, but I had hoped for more. A decent Irish whisky with a cognac finish sounded wonderful. It's good, but not as remarkable as I anticipated. The aroma is of ethanol and fruity nuts. The palate is silky but lacks body. There appears to be minimal pot still content, and the cognac cask influence, while a nice touch, is subtle. I found it on sale for just under $30; paying more would have felt like a rip-off. While it's slightly more refined than standard Bushmills or Jameson, it doesn't warrant a significantly higher price. For a comparable cost, I would much rather have a pour of The Quiet Man or The Irishman.

From the Summerton Virtual Whisky Festival sample. This is a surprisingly good blend, especially considering its youth – it tastes young, but still offers a creamy, peppery vanilla flavor. The cognac addition complements the blend of grain and malt. It develops with fairly floral notes and the faintest hint of fruit. The floral character caused me to sneeze! A pretty decent blend and what I'd consider a sipper, assuming it doesn't trigger allergies again!

On the nose, it's slightly sweet, like cake, and a bit fruity, perhaps pear. A slight mineral note too. On the palate, it starts quite dry then is very light and flat. You can sense light floral aromas and some spices. The finish is light, a bit spicy in the mouth but not very long-lasting. Not my kind of whisky, too low in aroma.

Ethanol, mint, and eucalyptus on the aroma, not a promising start. The palate isn't great, reminiscent of a mild mouthwash. The finish is also poor. The reviews I saw bore no resemblance to my experience. Perhaps I received a flawed bottle. It might explain why it was on sale.

Wow, vanilla! Hints of floral notes and a citrus zest. The palate is smooth, with detectable almonds and a touch of pepper. The pepper provides a spicy finish, yet it remains sweet. Overall, a very smooth, sweet Irish whisky with a spicy finish.